httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctamR6IIG_I
CLEVELAND – In the wake of another lopsided defeat to a top team on national television, Cleveland Cavaliers players and coach Ty Lue questioned the effort and trust within the team.
“Don’t look like [we tried]. We didn’t have no fight,” coach Ty Lue said after the Cavs’ 120-88 loss to the Houston Rockets, the team’s eighth straight loss on national television and fourth by 24 or more points since Jan. 1.
The Houston Rockets never trailed in Cleveland as they exploited the Cavaliers’ weaknesses on both ends of the floor.
LeBron James is healthy, but his effort level has waned over the past several weeks, perhaps hitting rock bottom Saturday.
James failed to get back on defense within the first minute of the game, foreshadowing a night w he gave significantly less than his normal effort on both ends.
Cleveland has lost its past eight nationally televised games this season, losing them by an average of 18 points per game, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
“I’m lost for words, actually,” James said, referring to the Cavs’ streak on national TV. “They should take us off every nationally televised game for the rest of the season. We haven’t played good ball and we get our butts kicked every time we play on national television, so I’m at a loss for words.”
“We gotta stop worrying about the past,” James said.
The Cavs have also made trades during the season in each of the past three seasons.